PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 23, 2008
Media Contact: Michelle Sanders, Public Relations Manager
(425) 392-1942 x124
www.villagetheatre.org
VILLAGE THEATRE ANNOUNCES FALL
KIDSTAGE CLASSES IN EVERETT
All Class Begin October 6, 2008
EVERETT, WA –Village Theatre KIDSTAGE is proud to announce its Fall line-up of exploratory and musical theatre classes for students of all ages, including but not limited to “Story Explorers” for children as young as Pre-K, “Musical Theatre 101,” and a “Broadway Foundations” class utilizing music from the smash hit Mamma Mia to enhance performance technique. All Everett classes begin October 6, 2008. Classes range from $125-$200 and parents can receive a 10 percent discount when registering more than one student from the same family or when registering for more than one class. One discount per family. Each registered student will also receive one half-price single ticket to any Village Theatre Mainstage production. Registration forms are available online at www.villagetheatre.org or by calling Village Theatre’s Youth Education office at (425) 247-6371.
EVERETT KIDSTAGE Fall Classes
at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA
EARLY STAGES – Literature and Life Skills (Pre-K–Grade 2):
Early Stages are literature-based exploratory classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate exercises and activities teach beginning terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as taking turns, listening, speaking up, and being part of a team — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A presentation for family and friends is held on the last day of each class.
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Story Explorers (Grades Pre-K–K)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Stories of Eric Carle
Tuesdays 2:30–3:30 PM, October 7–November 25, 2008
Tuition: $125*
The gloriously illustrated works of Eric Carle provide the inspiration for students as they play new characters and work together. This creative approach to acting out popular literature guides students as they bring to life both new and familiar stories.
*A student ticket to the Pied Piper performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites on Sunday, October 19, 2008 is provided with enrollment in this class.
Fables and Fairytales (Grades K–1)
Getting Fancy with Harold & Nancy
Tuesdays 4:00–5:00 PM, October 7–November 25, 2008
Tuition: $125
Students will celebrate creativity in its many forms as they delve into the embellished lives of Fancy Nancy and Harold and the Purple Crayon. Using craft projects, theatre games and, of course, dress up, students will reshape their own worlds.
Creative Chronicles – Section A & B (Grades 1–2)
Enchanted Adventures
Section A: Tuesdays 5:15–6:15 PM, October 7–November 25, 2008
Section B: Saturdays 11:15–12:15 PM, October 11–December 6, 2008
Tuition: $125*
Students will embody magical characters as they go for a romp in Shrek's swamp or climb into The Magic Tree House. By acting out these and other classic fairy tales of spells and enchantments students will enjoy the camaraderie of telling stories as a group.
Pair with Musical Moves.
*A student ticket to the Pied Piper performance of Lazer Vaudeville on Sunday, November 16, 2008 is provided with enrollment in this class.
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Page Three…Village Theatre Announces Fall KIDSTAGE Classes in Everett
FUNDAMENTAL STAGES – Building Blocks for Young Actors (Grades 3–12)
Fundamental Stages are introductory exploration classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate curriculum includes exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and responsibility — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A class sharing or demonstration is held on the last day of each class.
Character Quests – Sections A & B (Grades 3–5)
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Section A: Mondays 4:00 PM–5:30 PM, October 6–November 24, 2008
Section B: Saturdays 1:15 PM–2:45 PM, October 11–December 6, 2008
Tuition: $160
Prerequisite: none, although Early Stages or Elementary Acting classes are highly recommended.
Students learn how to create characters from the ground up by using and developing their own unique vocal and physical skills. Basic theatre and acting terminology are woven throughout the class as students re-enact and reinvent Louis Sachar's award-winning books of the funniest school in the universe where kids turn into apples and conduct orchestras of imaginary instruments.
Pair with Musical Moves.
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Ensemble Elements (Grades 6–8)
All For One and One For All
Mondays 5:45 PM–7:15 PM, October 6–November 24, 2008
Tuition: $160
Prerequisites: none, although Character Quests, or Acting 2 is highly recommended.
Learn what it takes to work from a book, poem or short story to bring a tale to life through improvisation, dialogue, and movement in an ensemble environment. This class offers a fun approach to developing characters, investigating conflict and resolution, and working together to create scenes. Students invent their own tales evoking the heroism and teamwork of historical and literary figures such as Robin Hood and Maid Marion, the Three Musketeers, Joan of Arc, or Lady Guinevere.
Pair with Broadway Foundations.
MUSICAL THEATRE CLASSES (Grade 1–Age 20):
Musical Theatre Classes are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Class time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. In the introductory level classes (Musical Moves), the focus is on the process of developing skills. There is an open class the last day of the session that demonstrates the new abilities of the students. In the intermediate and advanced level classes, students collaborate in developing a musical showcase of material that is performed for family and friends at the end of the session. All classes have a different theme each session. Students are encouraged to study year-round.
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BEGINNING MUSICAL THEATRE:
Musical Moves – Section A & B (Grades 1–2)
I'm Flying
Section A: Mondays, October 6–November 24, 2008, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Section B: Saturdays, October 11–December 6, 2008, 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
Tuition: $125*
Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.
Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits, connect movement to music, and learn to tell stories through their bodies and voices. Emphasis is on exploration of the joys of singing, dancing, and acting in a fun group environment, inspired by images of flying from such shows as Peter Pan, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Mary Poppins, among others.
Pair with Creative Chronicles.
* A student ticket to the Pied Piper performance of Lazer Vaudeville on Sunday, November 16, 2008 is provided with enrollment in this class.
Musical Moves – Section C & D (Grades 3–5)
Magic To Do
Section C: Mondays, October 6–November 24, 2008, 5:30 PM–6:30 PM
Section D: Saturdays, October 11–December 6, 2008, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Tuition: $125*
Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.
Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits, connect movement to music, and learn to tell stories through their bodies and voices. Emphasis is on exploration of the joys of singing, dancing, and acting in a fun group environment, inspired by feats of magic from such shows as such as Pippin, Aladdin, and others.
Pair with Character Quests.
* A student ticket to the Pied Piper performance of Lazer Vaudeville on Sunday, November 16, 2008 is provided with enrollment in this class.
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INTERMEDIATE MUSICAL THEATRE:
Broadway Foundations — Section A (Grades 3–5)
Beauty and the Beast
Tuesdays 4:00–6:00 PM, October 7–November 25, 2008
Tuition: $175
Prerequisite: Musical Theatre classes, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.
This class is designed for students who have been introduced to musical theatre and are ready to work at a more challenging level. Increased emphasis on performance technique and skills by using songs such as "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," and "Beauty and the Beast" make this a challenging and fun class for everyone.
Broadway Foundations — Section B (Grades 6–8)
Mamma Mia
Thursdays 4:00–6:00 PM, October 9–December 4, 2008
Tuition: $175
Prerequisite: Broadway Jr., Broadway Bound, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.
This class is designed for students who have been introduced to musical theatre and are ready to work at a more advanced level. Increased emphasis on performance technique and skills by using songs such as "Honey Honey," "SOS," and "Dancing Queen" make this a challenging and fun class for everyone.
Pair with Ensemble Building.
Musical Theatre 101 (Grades 9–12)
West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet
Saturdays 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, October 11–December 6, 2008
Tuition: $125
Prerequisites: None, although Acting 3 or Acting 101 is highly recommended.
This is an intermediate course for teen students to become acquainted with musical theatre and acting techniques. Students will explore character development, stylized language, classical acting, ensemble building, singing, and dancing through material from the both the legendary Broadway Classic West Side Story as well as its original source material, Romeo and Juliet.
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Singing for Musical Theatre (Grades 4–12)
Wednesdays 4:00 PM–5:30 PM, October 8–November 26, 2008
Tuition: $160
Prerequisite: Broadway Foundations, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.
A complete song-learning class, designed to help performers learn more about singing and music. Areas covered include vocal technique, music theory, breath control, rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Students expand their vocal range, fine tune their ears, strengthen breathing, and learn new music in a small class of eight students maximum. (This class does not take the place of individual voice lessons, which should be taken privately, year-round for serious singers.)
ADVANCED MUSICAL THEATRE:
Singing For Musical Theatre (Grades 4-12)
Wednesdays 5:45-7:15 PM, October 8–November 26, 2008
Tuition: $160
Prerequisite: Broadway Foundations, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.
A complete song-learning class designed to help performers learn more about singing and music. Areas covered include vocal technique, music theory, breath control, rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Students expand their vocal range, fine tune their ears, strengthen breathing, and learn new music in a small class of eight students maximum. (This class does not take the place of individual voice lessons, which should be taken privately, year-round for serious singers.)
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Page Eight…Village Theatre Announces Fall KIDSTAGE Classes in Everett
About Village Theatre KIDSTAGE:
Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem, and a life-long appreciation for live theatre,
KIDSTAGE is a year-round performing arts training program in Issaquah and Everett for young people ages 3-20. KIDSTAGE students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale KIDSTAGE productions. All performances are by KIDSTAGE students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.
About Village Theatre
Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. What began in 1979 with the vision of a small group of dedicated theatre artists has grown into one of the region's best-attended resident theatres, with over 16,000 subscribers to the current season and 165,000 projected total attendance, youth education programs serving over 53,000 young people, families, and schools annually, and a nationally recognized program that has enabled the development of over 80 new musicals. Serving an expanding and diverse community, Village Theatre has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years with the start of our contract as the resident performing and management company at the Everett Performing Arts Center in 1998.
Mission of Village Theatre:
· To be a regionally recognized and nationally influential center of excellence in family theatre
· To promote a season of top quality productions
· To commission and produce new musicals that achieve national exposure
· To train young people in theatre skills for career opportunities and enriched lives
· To develop a broad based appreciation for live theatre
· To promote positive values through art
KIDSTAGE is made possible, in part, by City of Issaquah, Everett Cultural Commission, Fluke, Kobe Foundation, Snohomish County Tourism, Tulalip Tribes, US Bancorp, and Washington State Arts Commission.
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